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Sunday, January 05, 2014

Microsoft Developed New Sign Language Translator-KINECT

US
software company Microsoft recently developed a new cost-effective sign
language translator that converts signs into spoken and written language – and
vice versa.

In collaboration
with researchers in China, Microsoft created theKinect
Sign Language Translator, a prototype system that understands
the gestures of sign language and converts them to spoken and writtenlanguageandvice versa.

The
translator uses a computer and a Kinect camera thatrecognisessigning gestures, then gives a spoken
and written translation of languages for people who can hear.

The system
captures a conversation both sides: the deaf person is shown signing, with a
written and spoken translation being rendered in real-time, while the system
takes the hearing person’s spoken words and turns them into accurate,
understandable signs. The system takes a person’s spokenwordsand
translate them into accurate signs carried out by an on-screen avatar.

The Kinect’s sensors read a user’s body position and movements and, with
the help of a computer, translate them into commands. The project wascollaborationbetween the Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Beijing Union University, and Microsoft Research Asia.